Lisa Johnson

Braid: Auditor general finds stalling, bad planning, big losses in Dynalife report Auditor General Doug Wylie finds faulting planing, denied evidence, big losses in Dynalife scandal.

Auditor general finds stalling, bad planning, big losses in devastating report on Dynalife fiasco. Remember when it took weeks to get a blood test? Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #ableg #abpoli #abhealth #cdnpoli #yyc #yeg

Smith details Alberta plans to open door for doctors to work publicly and privately EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith revealed her government's plan to introduce legislation to let doctors choose to work in the public and private health systems simultaneously.

Smith details Alberta plans to open door for doctors to work publicly and privately

From @reportrix.bsky.social:

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/smith...

Union for Alberta hospital workers issues strike notice; picketing to begin Saturday EDMONTON - The union representing 16,000 Alberta hospital workers, including licensed practical nurses and health-care aides, says its members are set to hit picket lines this weekend.

Union for Alberta hospital workers issues strike notice; picketing to begin Saturday

From @fakihabaig.bsky.social:

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Reposting with addendum from the former head of the Alberta Medical Association, who flatly calls out the premier's chief of staff for spreading misinformation (Rob's not lying about the polling numbers. There is a similar spread on more than one poll):

You'll see a lot of different numbers bandied about on this. Not wrong, but $125 million includes other stuff like cancelled central lab that was approved by the NDP, and other sunk taxpayer $ that didn't necessarily go to DynaLife. Full report here, it's a humdinger: www.oag.ab.ca/reports/an-e...

Canada expected to lose long-standing measles-elimination status If the country loses its status, public-health researchers say the return of endemic measles would carry serious health consequences

Canada expected to lose long-standing measles-elimination status on Monday, by @kkirkup.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art... via @theglobeandmail.com

Alberta students cut class, rally at legislature for teachers in strike-bill dispute EDMONTON - Hundreds of students cut class Thursday to march and chant against Alberta's shutdown of a teachers strike in protests that saw Premier Danielle Smith compared to a cold-hearted,

"This is a milestone which should have never been crossed, and today we fight so that it won't be crossed again.”

A dispatch from me and @reportrix.bsky.social on Alberta’s student walkout in response to the government’s back to work order for teachers and the use of the notwithstanding clause.

“What happens in Alberta will have implications for public sector labour relations across the country. Rights aren’t absolute. But using the notwithstanding clause in this way constitutes a direct attack on unionized workers,” said Larry Savage, a professor of labour studies at Brock University.

Alberta uses Charter's notwithstanding clause to order striking teachers back to work EDMONTON - Premier Danielle Smith’s government introduced a bill Monday using the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to order 51,000 striking teachers back to work to end the largest walkout in Alberta

Alberta uses Charter's notwithstanding clause to order striking teachers back to work

From @reportrix.bsky.social and me today, with updates to come as government sits into the night to pass the bill.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Manitoba premier criticizes other provinces over notwithstanding clause WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew took a swipe at governments in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec on Thursday as he announced a plan to have judges weigh in on the

"It's always the right wing that's using the notwithstanding clause and they're using it to play wedge politics. And however you feel about trans rights … the reality is this — we need to respect people's freedom." -Wab Kinew www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/man...

Wyant could not get to bottom of scandal involving multimillion-dollar deals for medication and for-profit surgical providers.
“When I find that there was no wrongful interference by any government official in the matters concerning this report, that only means that I found no evidence of such.”

With Alberta students not in class, future teachers are left in limbo. Roberts was to begin a nine-week practicum the day teachers walked off the job. In her program, they need 10 weeks of practical experience in order to graduate. Many questions, excellent reporting from @journosousa.bsky.social

Alberta government to release report into health contract scandal in 'a few days' EDMONTON - Alberta's government says it received Wednesday the final report from the investigation into allegations of corruption over health contracts, but it won't be immediately released.

Smith’s government will spring the Wyant report on us within days, after they review it.

"Why does the government need to review something that the public paid for and deserves to have answers for?" NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi asked today. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/alber...

Smith has had a change of heart since she was Wildrose Party leader in 2014 when she slammed the PCs plan to remove “Wild Rose Country" from licence plates.
"I also joked that it was great to have advertising for the political party I represented at that time on the back of every licence plate.”

'We'll be moving': Alberta transgender children, families brace for legal changes EDMONTON - Football decals plaster the walls of his bedroom. A San Francisco 49ers bedspread and a binder full of trading cards make it clear the seven-year-old loves sports.

People have words about Alberta Premier Smith enacting the notwithstanding clause to enforce bills that will affect their kids.

“We'll be moving if she enacts that. For the safety of our child,” says one parent.

People have words.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/well-...

'We'll be moving': Alberta transgender children, families brace for legal changes EDMONTON - Football decals plaster the walls of his bedroom. A San Francisco 49ers bedspread and a binder full of trading cards make it clear the seven-year-old loves sports.

Incredible, heartbreaking interviews by @reportrix.bsky.social.

Quote: "“You show your love really weird," the girl says of [Premier] Smith." 💔

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/sports/well-...

The kids, they know what's going down. They're fighting for their actual lives. No bluster. No exaggeration.

'A big mess': Expert, parents criticize Alberta tool kit for students during strike EDMONTON - An education expert is criticizing online lessons the Alberta government has curated for students during a provincewide teachers strike as "incoherent."

Maren Aukerman, an education professor at the University of Calgary, says the Alberta government's nearly 200-page "tool kit" hops from one topic to another without context and barely aligns with the provincial curriculum.

"It is incoherent." www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Alberta Premier Smith dismisses critics who say she's misleading public on trans law EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told critics of a law restricting health care for transgender youth Wednesday they need to read up on puberty, while Alberta doctors say she's

“I encourage you to look up what puberty is," says the premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith.

🫡

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...

Interim report on Alberta health contract scandal not finished, won't be made public EDMONTON - Alberta's government says it has yet to receive an interim report on the investigation into allegations of corruption over health contracts, but that it should be finished in

Interim report on Alberta health contract scandal not finished, won't be made public

From me today:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/inter...

Adviser on Alberta’s use of private clinics was also working for company vying for contract, confidential report says Potential conflicts of interest outlined in document at centre of health procurement controversy

SCOOP: A consultant advising Alberta Health Services on private surgical facilities simultaneously negotiated with AHS on behalf of a company vying to open such a clinic, according to a confidential report obtained by The Globe.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...

Saskatchewan is hoping the Supreme Court of Canada will quickly hear its appeal to a ruling on the province's school pronoun law, citing the legal case as one of national importance. Lawyers opposing the law also want to see the case heard alongside a challenge of Quebec's religious-symbols law.

"Her interest in using the Constitution's so-called nuclear option to do so comes after a political lifetime believing in the protection of people's fundamental rights and freedoms."

Notwithstanding clause won't stop court challenges of Alberta trans laws: groups EDMONTON - Doctors and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups challenging Alberta laws affecting transgender people say they aren't backing down after learning the province plans to invoke the Charter's notwithstandi...

“How do you counter Goliath?” www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/notwi...

CMA calls on Alberta government to refrain from using notwithstanding clause to interfere with patient care The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) calls on the Alberta government to refrain from invoking the notwithstanding clause to enact legislation that directly interferes in the clinical care of patient...

Political interference in health care sets a dangerous precedent.

The CMA is calling on the Alberta government to refrain from using the notwithstanding clause to enact legislation that threatens patient care.

Alberta looks to use notwithstanding clause on its 3 transgender laws: memo | CBC News Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office has directed officials to invoke the Charter's notwithstanding clause in amending three laws that affect transgender people, says a leaked government memo obtai...

I wrote this column for @albertaviews.bsky.social two years ago. But tonight’s news inspired me to share it here. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta looks to use notwithstanding clause on its 3 transgender laws: memo | CBC News Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office has directed officials to invoke the Charter's notwithstanding clause in amending three laws that affect transgender people, says a leaked government memo obtai...

Alberta planning to use the notwithstanding clause. Some solid sleuthing by @reportrix.bsky.social #ableg #cdnpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Packed Alberta Next Panel town hall met with praise in Grande Prairie, Alta. | CBC News Premier Danielle Smith's Alberta Next panel, aimed at wrenching more political control from Ottawa, was spurred to take action in Grande Prairie Wednesday.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she doesn't need to hold referenda on some of the Alberta Next panel ideas to bring them to fruition:

By @reportrix.bsky.social #AbLeg #FMM #RMWB

Anywhoo, some detailed answers from Diane, including: "It is unclear from the government announcement as to what purpose the inclusion of this information on Albertans' driver's licenses will serve. It's also unclear what the benefit for Albertans would be." Updated: tinyurl.com/bdz6eztk

Didn't get any responses today to my questions this morning to Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally's office, but I'm told they're working on it. Nally did appear on the radio today on this topic. "Because we live in Canada, there will be no discrimination." Behold: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

Here's what the Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod said today in response to Premier Danielle Smith's announcement yesterday that she's making citizenship markers mandatory for driver's licenses. Statement from McLeod in full: #ableg